CAO Change of Mind: A Parent's Guide to Supporting Smart, Confident Choices
The CAO Change of Mind facility is now open (May 6th–July 1st), offering students a second chance to review and refine their course choices for free. With around 60% of applicants typically availing of this option after school ends, parents and guardians play a vital role in helping students stay focused, calm, and informed.
Understanding the Basics
Every CAO offer is based on three things:
- Meeting the minimum entry requirements (e.g. specific grades in Irish, English, Maths, or a language).
- Achieving enough points based on the student’s best six Leaving Cert results.
- Order of preference, Once a student meets the entry requirements and has enough points, the course they are offered depends entirely on the order in which they have listed their choices.
The CAO will only offer the highest course on the list that the student is eligible for. This means:
- Even if they have the points for a lower preference, they won’t be offered it if they’re eligible for a higher one.
- They won’t be offered a course unless they meet both the minimum requirements and the points.
Top Tips for Parents:
Prioritise what they want, not what they might get.
The order of preference should reflect genuine interest, not guesswork about points. Remind your son: “List your dream course first. If you don’t get enough points, the system moves to the next choice automatically.”
Double-check minimum entry requirements.
Use cao.ie, CareersPortal.ie, or individual college websites. Some courses require a certain grade in Maths, a language, or a portfolio/interview.
Avoid the points trap.
Just because a course is 500+ points doesn’t mean it’s better. High points reflect demand, not quality or suitability.
Research together.
Look at course content, college life, graduate outcomes. A course title alone doesn’t show what it’s really about.
Review and Reflect: Helping Son Teen Finalise Their CAO List
Before the July 1st Change of Mind deadline, sit down together and encourage your son to slow down and really think about their CAO list. It’s important that his courses are listed in true order of preference, based on what he genuinely wants, not what he thinks he might get.
As a parent or guardian, you don’t need to have all the answers. But by asking thoughtful questions and giving your son the space to reflect, you can help him feel more confident and in control of his choices.
Here are some helpful questions you can talk through with your son:
- “Do you genuinely want to do this course?”
If you got an offer for it tomorrow, would you feel excited or disappointed?
- “Can you imagine yourself in this college, on this course, studying those subjects?”
What would day-to-day life look like? Does it feel like a good fit for your personality and interests?
- “If you don’t get offered the course you hoped for, what will you wish you had done differently today?”
Did you rely too much on predicted points or pick what felt 'safe'? Did you research each course properly?
If your son realises there’s still something left to do, more research, a course to move up or down the list, a conversation to have, it’s not too late. Encourage him to take that final step now.
Common Questions Parents Ask:
Q: Should he leave high points courses in just in case he gets the points?
A: Only if the student genuinely wants that course. The CAO will offer it if they qualify. If they don’t want it, it can block them from getting a course they do want lower down.
Q: What if he changes his mind again in August?
A: The Change of Mind deadline is final.
Q: Is it too late to apply for a PLC?
A: No. Many Further Education colleges accept applications through summer. Encourage early application as places can fill up quickly.
Q: Can he get offered a course lower down the list if he qualifies for a higher one?
A: No. The CAO will only offer the highest course on the list that your son meets both entry requirements and points for. That’s why getting the order of preference right is essential.